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Doctor of
Philosophy

Overview

A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an internationally recognised graduate research program that will enable you to become an independent researcher.

With the guidance of an advisory team, you will undertake a research project and produce an 80,000-word thesis and complete an oral examination.

A PhD will take you 3 to 4 years to complete full time and is intended to develop advanced research skills and knowledge in your chosen field.

Your research project will be developed with advice from your advisors and allow you to develop discipline and broader research skills and knowledge.

The thesis is a substantial document that makes and original contribution to the field of research.

You will need a strong academic background and you may need to submit a research proposal and other documents to support your application. About 1,000 PhD candidates join UQ each year researching a wide range of topics.

Research areas

UQ is one of Australia’s top research-intensive universities. Our research addresses national and global cultural, environmental, economic and social challenges.

UQ continually builds on its reputation in key research impact areas of national and international significance.

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Entry requirements

GPA equivalent

Academic entry requirements

You have to prove you are prepared for PhD study. You do this by showing you:

have completed an approved university degree

have completed some research experience and

can meet the English language requirements.

Approved degrees

An approved degree needs to be:

in an area relevant to your proposed PhD project and

completed no more than 10 years ago.

You need one of the following approved degrees to apply for a PhD:

Master of Philosophy (or another research master’s degree)

Bachelor’s degree from an approved university with at least honours class IIA or equivalent

Coursework master’s degree with an overall grade point average of 5.65 on the 7-point UQ scale

Postgraduate degree (at least one year full-time or equivalent) with an overall grade point average of 5 on the 7-point UQ scale, together with research experience. We will consider these applications on a case-by-case basis

Bachelor’s degree plus at least 2 years of research experience, including research publications.

Additional application information

Applications must be lodged via the online application portal. There is no application fee for research higher degree programs. Ensure you have all the required documents prepared when you submit your application.

Additional entry requirements

Many departments will have additional entry requirements and may request documents to support your application, such as a research proposal. You should discuss these additional requirements with your potential thesis supervisor.

English language requirements

There are a few ways you can meet our English language requirements. If you sit a test, the following scores are needed for PhD admission:

How to apply for a scholarship

You can apply for many scholarships using the same form as your PhD application. External scholarships might have different ways to apply. Our Scholarships website explains how to apply for each scholarship.

Research costs

The department you enrol with will meet all necessary costs for your project, including:

resource and facility costs: at UQ, which may include other organisations in Australia or overseas

travel costs: to complete fieldwork, collect data, or to visit libraries or other repositories

coursework costs: for courses studied outside the department

relevant training: in particular methodologies or techniques.

How to apply

Before you apply

1. Gather your documents

You will need to compile the necessary documents. We will accept scanned copies of original documents, but you will have to keep all original documents for the duration of your studies.

Upload all documents as PDFs and name your files like this: LASTNAME_firstname_document-name.pdf

If any of your documents is in a language other than English, you will need to send both the original document and an official translation.

Send the following documents with your application:

Academic CV/résumé

Your academic CV should include the following headings:

Personal details
Include your full name and contact details.

Educational qualifications and professional affiliations
Include the full title of the qualification, the institution attended and the year awarded.

Employment history
In chronological order, starting with your current position and specifying dates of employment. Include the title of each position, name of employer, main duties or responsibilities, and achievements relevant to your proposed field of research. Make sure you include details of any research-related positions.

Research publications
Include articles published or accepted for publication. Mark the three most significant publications with an asterisk. Specify the publication details, your contribution as an author to multi-authored publications, plus the standing of the journal or conference.

Description of most significant publications
Include a short description (200 words each maximum) for each of the three asterisked publications. Explain their significance in the field and why they have made an important contribution. All publications should use an official referencing style (such as Chicago, APA or Harvard).

Research grants
Only include awarded grants.

Academic referees
Include the name and contact details (address, telephone and email) of two referees. If possible, include a senior person (preferably your supervisor or the head of organisational unit) closely associated with your current research work.

You don't need to include marital status, photographs, driver’s license, hobbies and interests.

Academic transcript

This should show all study you have undertaken since secondary school, whether complete or incomplete, including the institution grading scale.

An academic transcript can also be called an:

academic record

diploma supplement

statement of learning

record of achievement.

Degree certificate

A degree certificate is a legal document, imprinted with a university seal. It should state the name of your qualification and areas of study.

Include all degree certificates (testamurs) for post-secondary study with your application. If you studied in China, you must provide a:

transcript

award certificate and

graduate statement/certificate.

English language documents

All applicants have to prove they can meet English language requirements. Any test scores have to be valid at your proposed commencement date.

Passport

Include a copy of the information page (with your photo) in your passport. This will verify your identity and ensure we can make offers correctly.

References/letters of recommendation

Include the contact details of two referees who will support your application. These referees will need to provide insight into your research experience.

We will contact your referees for a report, but you will need to enter their details into the application form.

Other documents

Other documentation, originals or certified copies, may be required depending on your individual circumstances, for example:

evidence of change of name

proof of citizenship, if you are not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand by birth

previous research program information.

If you don't provide us with all documents it will take us longer to process your application. Your start date might then be delayed, or you might miss an admission or scholarship deadline.

2. Approach a potential supervisor

Identify a researcher with relevant expertise and get agreement to support your PhD and project.

Many departments will require additional information to make a decision around your motivation, understanding, commitment, and financial support required.

They may request documents to support your application, such as a research proposal. You should discuss these additional requirements with your potential thesis supervisor.

3. Apply online

Once you have prepared your application and contacted a potential supervisor, use the online application form to apply. You can send an application at any time.

If you are not applying in a UQ scholarship round you should apply at least 12 weeks before a research quarter start date.